CD recorder and printer

ABSTRACT

A disc copying or recording device and a disc label printer are mounted in a common assembly, and include a printhead moveable along a guide shaft on a frame. A disc transport carriage is mounted on the same guide shaft as the printhead, can be moved along this guide shaft for picking up discs in a storage area, moving a disc to a tray or support used for recording and then to a disc tray or support for printing, and moving a finished disc to a finished disc storage region. The carriage has an arm with a disc picker that can be moved to hold and release discs in a desired location. The carriage is latched to the printhead and the printhead drive is used for moving the carriage along the guide shaft in the preferred showing.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation of application Ser. No. 10/447,503,filed May 29, 2003 now U.S. Pat. No. 7,061,515 which in turn was aContinuation-In-Part of application Ser. No. 10/162,363, filed Jun. 3,2003. U.S. Pat. No. 6,760,052, issued Jul. 6, 2004 and the benefit ofpriority on application Ser. Nos. 10/447,503 and 10/162,363 is herebyclaimed, and the contents of those applications are incorporated byreference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a combined disc recorder and labelprinter for recording digital information on compact discs, includingmusic, video recordings, and any other type of information recorded onplastic discs. Printing label information onto the disc at the time ofrecording completes the processing of the disc.

Apparatus for printing on plastic discs have been advanced in the artwhere a recorder for a disc is combined in the same unit as a printer asshown in U.S. Pat. No. 6,327,230. However, the device shown in U.S. Pat.No. 6,327,230 includes a vending sequence, and uses entirely differentmechanisms for the printing and the recording. The disc “pick” or holderthat transports the disc between various stations is separate from theprinter.

The handling of discs that have center openings, including lifting asingle disc from a stack of discs or individually from a tray or supportis well known. A number of different types of “picks” or grippers havebeen advanced including a pick or gripper shown in Costas U.S. Pat. No.5,873,692, as well as other types of grippers such as that shown in U.S.Pat. Nos. 6,111,847 and 5,934,865.

Also, it has been well known to print “label” information directly ontodiscs. Recording or disc duplication also has been carried out, as shownin U.S. Pat. No. 6,141,298 to Miller, but the combination of an easilyused ink jet printer that will reliably print information onto a discwhen it is recorded, with a minimum amount of apparatus is desired.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention combines a compact disc recorder (duplicator orburner) and printer that minimizes the amount of apparatus that is used,and which preferably utilizes a common support shaft for the printheadand the disc transporter for sequencing a disc between processes. Theblank discs are generally a plastic disc, and are termed compact discsor “CD's”; DVD's; and recordable DVDs, mini discs and name badge discs.The peripheral shapes are not only circular, but can be rectilinear orwith parallel sides and rounded or curved ends.

In the present invention, a feature is that the printer that is used forprinting onto the discs is an inkjet printer that moves along a bearingshaft, with a power drive. The printhead is guided on this shaft in alateral direction for printing, while the item on which it is recordingwill be moved in a direction perpendicular to the shaft. As shown thesame shaft is used for mounting a disc “picker” or gripper, so that theunit is integrated into one compact assembly, utilizing a minimum amountof individual framework, or supports, making for a more compactarrangement and making more efficient use of the supports. A separate,parallel shaft or guide can be used for the picker mounting.

Specifically, a CD printer of a well known design can be used. U.S. Pat.No. 6,148,722 shows a thermal printer with a CD support tray that feedsa CD past a thermal printhead. The CD or disc support tray drive shownin U.S. Pat. No. 6,148,722 can be used with ink jet printers as well.Disc recorders or duplicators available on the open market can be usedin the apparatus of the present invention. The duplicating mechanism andthe printer both utilize trays that will extend from the recorder or theprinter housing under a control program. The trays extend to a positionwhere a disc can be placed onto the respective tray fort the respectiveoperation. The blank discs are stored in a stack or storage area, andare lifted with the disc gripper or picker head that is mounted on avertically moveable arm. The arm is supported on a carriage that slidesalong a bearing shaft which also is used for mounting the printhead.

The operations can be sequenced. For example, the blank disc can bepicked from the supply and moved to a position overlying the tray forthe disc burner or recorder when it is extended, and then dropped inplace. The programmed control will cause the disc to move into the CDburner or recorder, and after the information is recorded, the tray willbe moved back to the extended position where the disc is accessible forthe disc gripper or picker to lift the disc up from that tray and holdit in a raised position clearing the tray of the CD burner or recorder.

The program will then cause the recorder or burner tray to retract, andthe printer tray is caused to extend. The printer tray, when extended,will be generally in registry with the position of the burner orrecorder tray when the recorder tray is extended, so that the disc canbe moved down from its raised position by the gripper or pick down ontothe printer tray. The CD is released, the picker is retracted and theprinter then will be operated to print label information according to aprogram onto is done, the program control will cause the picker to againlift the CD from the printer tray and transport it to a storage areawhere the finished disc or CD is stacked.

The picker or gripper is mounted onto an arm that is on a carriagemounted on the same bearing shaft and support as the printhead for theprinter. This eliminates separate mountings, and makes the assembly muchmore compact and also increases reliability. The carriage for the discpickup arm releasably latches onto the printhead for movement along therail. This eliminates the need for a separate drive for the picker orgrip carriage. The grip or pick is moved vertically with a separatethreaded rod driven by a stepper motor. The alignment of the disc withthe tray is greatly simplified.

In a second form of the mounting for the picker arm, the arm will swivelor pivot about the axis of the arm mounting to the vertical supportscrew. The swivel will permit the picker to overlie CD storage hoppersthat are spaced farther apart than with a non-swiveling arm. The armwill move clockwise a limited distance as it reaches the end of travelof the carriage in one direction, and swivels in an opposite directionas it reaches the end of travel in the other direction.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a simplified schematic perspective view of a recorder andprinter assembly made according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic top plan view thereof showing a layout ofcomponents;

FIG. 3 is a simplified, schematic perspective view of the device in FIG.1 taken at opposite angle from FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken as on line 4—4 in FIG. 5;

FIG. 5 is a front elevational view of the CD recorder and printer of thepresent invention;

FIG. 6 is a front view of a printhead and carriage in a position latchedtogether;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing the mounting of a latch lever andarm actuator of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged perspective view of the latch lever in positionlatched to the printhead;

FIG. 9 is a front perspective view of a modified form of the invention,showing an expanded disc storage;

FIG. 10 is a block diagram illustrating a process of the presentinvention;

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a modified form of a printer of thepresent invention showing a swiveling pick-up arm for handling discs;

FIG. 12 is a fragmentary top plan view of the right hand side of theprinter of FIG. 11 showing the swiveling arm in a solid line positionafter it has swiveled counterclockwise about its mounting;

FIG. 13 is a sectional view taken as on line 13—13 in FIG. 12; and

FIG. 14 is an enlarged view of a lower portion of the swivel mountingshown in FIG. 13.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

A disc printer and recorder or burner apparatus is shown generally at10, and includes a frame 12 that extends transversely and has endsupports 13 supported on a base plate 15. The frame 12 can be aconventional inkjet printer frame such as that on a Lexmark ink jetprinter, made and sold by Lexmark International, Inc. of Lexington Ky.,USA, and it provides a stable support for movement of the printhead andother components in a lateral direction. Frame 12 supports a transversebearing support shaft 14 for slidably mounting a printhead 16. Theprinthead 16 also has suitable guides at the upper end 17 on a track 12Aat the top of the frame 12, so that the printhead 16 is held stable forprinting can be moved laterally along the bearing rail 14. The printheadhas two ink cartridges 16A and 16B as shown, and the printhead is onlyschematically shown since the printhead guides for the printhead andprinthead drives are conventional on Lexmark printers.

A drive belt 18 for the printhead 16 is driven from a suitable motorrepresented at 20, the drive is a conventional drive used for inkjetprintheads. The drive moves the printhead 16 along the shaft 14 and issynchronized with movement of the printer tray to carry out the printingoperation with a central controller 19.

The printer frame, the guide shaft, the printhead, and the printer headdrive, as well as the CD tray and tray drive are conventional.

The central controller 19 is provided for controlling the variousoperations of the apparatus 10 including controlling the printhead motor20, and as will be the explained, controlling the recording of the CDand printing a label on the recorded CD operations.

The printer includes a CD printer housing 23 that has a disc supporttray 22 for a compact disc, which is to have a label printed thereon. Adisc or CD 25A is illustratively shown in position on the tray. When adisc 25A is on the tray 22, the tray can be moved so that it is in aposition as shown in FIG. 1. The tray is movable under a positive,coordinated drive relative to the printhead 16, for printing on a discon the tray. The tray 22 is moved inwardly and outwardly from housing 23perpendicular to the printhead bearing shaft 14, while the printhead 16travels along the bearing shaft 14 for the printing job, generallywithin the showings of the printer and printer feed in U.S. Pat. Nos.6,148,722 and 6,302,601. While the print tray 22 is shown extended inFIG. 1, the recording or burning operation on the disc will take placefirst, before the printing operation is carried out.

The discs or CD's 25A have standard center openings, and in order tohandle the discs, a disc transport mechanism 30A including a carriage 30and a disc gripper or picker illustrated at 24, which is mounted onto anarm 28, in a suitable manner. The gripper 24 can be of any desired form,but as shown it has three vertical finger blades 24B that have ends 24Athat will slip into the opening of a compact disc. A solenoid 26 that isalso mounted on the arm 28 will be actuated to spread the ends 24A ofthe gripper blades 24B to engage the inner surfaces of the opening inthe center of a CD to be handled. While FIG. 1 does not show the supplyof blank CD's, the stack is represented at 46 in FIGS. 2 and 5, and thestack underlies or is below the arm 28 and gripper 24 when the gripperis at a “home” position at one end (the left end in the figures) of theframe.

The arm 28 and the solenoid 26 are mounted onto carriage 30, formingpart of the disc transport mechanism 30A. The carriage 30 is slideablymounted onto the same bearing shaft 14 as the printhead 16 and also canengage the guide edge 12 for stability. The carriage 30 is moved alongthe bearing shaft 14 by latching or hooking it to the printhead 16 andusing the printhead drive belt 18 and motor 20 for positioning thehandler carriage. The latching or hooking action, and movement of thecarriage 30 is under overall control of the controller 19.

The carriage 30 has a central block 31 that has hubs 31A guided on apair of vertical posts 31B. The center block 31 also has a threaded hub31C that is threadably mounted onto a vertical threaded rod or post 32.The rod or post 32 is rotatably supported on upper and lower plates 33Aand 33B of carriage 30. The threaded rod or post 32 moves with thecarriage and the arm 28 is supported on the post, and can be moved invertical directions along the post 32, by rotating the post with astepper motor 33. The motor 33 is on a top plate 33A of the carriage 30.The motor 33 will rotate the post 32 under control of the controller 19to move the arm 28 up or down. The carriage 30 also has a pair ofupright guide and support walls 35A and 35B connected between plates 33Aand 33B. The guide walls 35A and 35B have guide hooks 37A and 37B thatfit over the guide rail 12A for slidable guiding.

The movement of the carriage 30 along the bearing shaft 14 and as guidedby rail 12A is accomplished by releasably attaching the carriage 30 tothe printhead 16, utilizing a latch lever 29 that is pivotally mountedon upright wall 35A of the carriage 30. The catch or latch lever 29 fitsin a slot 35C and its base end 35E is mounted at a pivot pin 29A that isheld in the wall 35A. The lever 29 also passes through a slot in wall35B and has a catch or hook 29B (FIGS. 5, 6, 7, and 8,) at the outerend. The hook 29B on catch lever 29 will pivot up when a ramp edge 29Eis engaged by a catch, as shown, a lug 34 on the printhead, as theprinthead is moved against the carriage 30. The arm 28 can be raised soa flange 31F on block 31 engages a tab 29T to lift the hook 29B. Thehook 29B can be raised to a level to clear a lug or catch 34 on theprinthead 16.

The vertical position of arm 28 where a CD held in the gripper 23 is inposition to be transported between stations is lower than the portionwhere it will lift the latch lever 29. The printhead can be quicklymoved against the carriage 30 for latching automatically by driving belt18.

The latch lever 29 can be spring loaded to urge the hook end 29Bdownwardly if desired. The belt 18 and motor 20 is used for driving theprinthead 16 along bearing shaft 14. The connection with the latch lever29 will cause the carriage 30 to also slide along the bearing shaft 14.

In operating the recorder and printer through a cycle, first the arm 28is moved downwardly so the gripper 24 engages a blank disc 25A from thesupply stack 46 in a storage tray or hopper 46A (FIG. 5). The solenoid24 is activated so a CD or disc is gripped. The arm 28 then can beraised by driving motor 33 to the position where the disc that is heldin gripper 24 can be moved laterally. The printhead 16 is moved by motor20 operating belt 18, and is lateral to the carriage 30 either before orafter picking up a blank disc.

When latching the printer to the carriage, the printhead 16 is movedagainst the carriage and the lug or catch 34 will ride on the taperededge 29E on the latch lever 29 until the hook end latches to hold thecarriage 30 to move as the printhead is moved to the right in thedrawings with the printhead 16.

The disc arm transport 28 is positioned at an angle to the axis ofbearing shaft 14 supporting the carriage 30 such that when the carriage30 is all the way to the left in FIGS. 1 and 5, the gripper or pick 24will overlie the stack 46 of blank discs. After lowering the arm 28 topick up a disc, and hooking the carriage 30 to the printhead 16, thecarriage is moved to the right by moving the printhead 16 using the belt18 and motor 20. The disc gripper or pick on arm 28, and a disc that iscarried by the gripper are moved to come into registry with a centerrecording and printing position

In addition to the printer housing 23, which includes a drive 23A fortray 22, a disc recorder or burner 40 of conventional design ispositioned below the printer housing. The recorder operating system alsois controlled by the controller 19. Recorder 40 can be of the same typethat is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 6,327,230. This recorder has a CD or discsupport tray 42 that extends from the recorder housing to the positiongenerally as shown in FIG. 1 using the controller 19 operating therecorder internal drive for loading blank disc. The loading position ofthe recorder disc support tray is directly below, or in other words inregistry with, the position of the printer disc support tray 22. Whenthe printer tray 22 is retracted into the printer housing 17, therecorder tray 42 will be in a position to receive a blank disc 25 fromthe picker 24 on the arm 28. The printing tray 22 will be retracted intothe printer housing 23 during the recording operation.

Once the blank disc 25 is deposited on the tray 42 and released by thepicker, the tray 42 will be retracted into the burner or recordinghousing 40 for the recording operation. The retraction and recordingoperation is under control of the controller 19, with the inputs beingselected by the user. The recording sequence is selected by theoperating program of the recorder, which can be as provided by therecorder manufacturer, and the particulars of the recording operationform no part of the invention.

Once the recording is completed, the tray 42 will be extended back outto the position shown in FIG. 1, but printer tray 22 will remainretracted. The recorded disc is picked up with the picker 24, and thearm 28 is moved up to raise the disc sufficiently to clear the level ofthe tray 22. The tray 22 then will be extended from the printer housing,(the tray 42 can be retracted) and the arm 28 lowered and the picker 24released to place the disc that had just been recorded in printer tray22. The disc label printing operation will then take place.

During printing, preferably the carriage 30 will be moved to its rest orhome position shown in FIG. 1, (by pushing it to the left with theprinthead) and disengaged from the printhead by moving arm 28 to liftflange 31F to engage flange 29T to lift latch lever 29 to release thecarriage 30 from the printhead. This vertical position of the arm 28 ishigher than the position of the arm as the disc is moved laterally. Theposition can be sensed by a position sensor 60 (FIG. 8).

The printhead 16 will then be operated along the bearing shaft 14 andguide rail 12A in a normal manner, moving back and forth as controlledby controller 19 driving motor 20 and belt 18, while the tray 22 will bemoved perpendicular to the guide shaft 14, under control of a traydrive.

After the printing is done, the printhead 16 will be moved over to theleft in FIG. 1, and again latched to the carriage. The lug 34 lifts thelatch lever 29 by sliding on edge surface 29E. When the hook 29B engagesthe lug or catch 34 on the printhead 16 the carriage 30 can be moved topick up the finished (recorded and printed) disc and move the finisheddisc 25 to a storage tray 50, on the right hand end of the device 10, asshown in FIGS. 1 and 5, or to a center storage location as shown in FIG.9.

The latching of the carriage 30 to the printhead provides for anefficient use of existing components to achieve a new combination. Thecarriage 30 for the disc handling gripper 24 is preferably mounted onthe same bearing shaft 14 and other guides on frame 12 as the printhead16, (but can be on separate or parallel guides) and is moved by movingthe printhead 16 using existing motors and drive. The latch lever 29 canbe latched to the printhead automatically by sliding the printhead underthe latch or by raising the catch lever with the arm 28 before movingthe printhead under the latch lever.

The process will then be repeated as desired. There is no need for apivoting tower that is provided in various duplicators, there is no needfor a separate independent drive for the disc transport mechanism.

In FIG. 9, a modified version of the printer CD recorder and printer ofthe present invention is indicated at 100. In this form of theinvention, the printhead and carriage latching remain the same, andwhile FIG. 9 may show some additional details, the operation ofhandling, recording and printing discs is the same as previouslydescribed. In this instance, a support top 102, such a work top, tableor the like is provided, for supporting the frame 12 in position. Theframe 12 includes the main bearing support shaft 14 on which theprintheads 16 will be moved, along with the printer drive belt 18 whichis driven from a motor in a suitable manner. The printer provided inthis form of the invention, is exactly the same, and the disc transportmechanism 30A including the carriage 30 is controlled relative to theprinthead 16 as previously described, using a latch lever 29. The picker24 is operated in the same manner as before, and the stepper motor 33 isdriven to move the arm 28 and the picker vertically, as desired.

Programming for recording and printing can also remain the same, but inthis form of the invention, the capacity of the CD recorder and printeris increased by using the two disc storage areas or hoppers on the frame12 as blank disc storage areas. As shown in FIG. 9, a blank disc storagearea 104 is on the left side, and has the same guide walls for retaininga stack of discs as the storage area for the stack of blank discs in theprevious figures. As can be seen, blank discs 106 are stored in thestorage area or hopper 104. A second blank disc storage area or hoppershown at 108 comprises guides that stores another stack of blank discs106. The location of storage area 108 is the same as that used for theecompleted discs in the first form of the invention.

In order to provide for the storage of the same number of completelyrecorded and printed discs as the blank discs, a completed disc supportarea or hopper 110 is provided in the center of the frame 12,essentially in alignment with the center bisecting planes of the printerand recorder. The support or hopper 110 has a vertical support wall 112that attaches either to the bottom of the frame 12, or directly to thetabletop 102, and it is in alignment with an inclined chute or ramp 114that is in alignment with the disc trays of the printer 20 and recorderor burner 40. The chute 114 extends from an upper level below andadjacent to the disc tray 42 of the burner or recorder 40, downwardly toan outer trough portion 116 that has guide flanges 118 for guiding acompletely finished disc indicated at 120 as it slides down the chute orramp. The upper end of the chute or ramp 114 is underneath the outer endof the arm 28 and gripper 24, so that when the arm 28 and gripper 24have been used to lift and remove a completely finished disc from theprinter tray 22, the disc 120 can be lowered by operating the motor 33to lower the arm the amount desired, and the disc will drop down to theramp 114, where it will slide as indicated by the arrow 122 to comebetween the guides 124 on the support area or hopper 110. The guides 124are part circular, as shown, and are supported on a horizontal basemember 126 of the support 110 that is attached to the vertical wallportion 112.

The guides 124 are part cylindrical and made so they will provide for astorage of the number of finished discs equal to the blank discs 106 inboth of the storage areas 104 and 108. For example, with 25 discs ineach of the storage areas 104 and 108, the support or hopper 110 is madeto hold 50 finished discs.

Thus, the disc recorder and printer assembly remains compact. Thefinished disc support 110 can be placed in position after the frame 12has been located on a work top or table 102.

The center bisecting plane of the finished disc support 110, which isperpendicular to the guide shaft 14, defines the center line along whichthe disc 120 that is finished and released by the gripper 24 will slide.The plane bisects the trays 22 and 42 that support the disc during theoperations of printing and recording. Thus the finished disc support iscentered on the bisecting plane of the printer. The blank disc storageareas or hoppers 104 and 108 are spaced essentially the same amount onopposite sides of this plane, so that the arm 28 can be easilymanipulated to pick up the blank discs, and deposit them first in therecording tray, and then the printing tray. When fully finished thegripper and arm are used to lift the disc out of the printer tray anddeposit the finished disc onto the slide 114 for storage.

In FIG. 10, a block diagram showing the process for operation of thepresent invention is illustrated. A block indicated at 70 is the startof the process. The carriage 30 is kept latched to the printhead exceptwhen printing takes place, so the position of the carriage 30 is knownand controlled. A blank CD is picked up by the carriage 30, using the“picker” 24 as shown in block 72.

The printhead 16 is driven, and moves the carriage 30 along with it tomove a blank disc to the CD recorder tray as indicated by block 74. Therecording or burning of the CD (or other recordable disc) takes place inthe recorder housing. The carriage is moved over the recorder tray andthe gripper 24 will remove the recorded CD and the recorder tray will beretracted as shown in block 76. Next, the print tray 22 is extended, andthe CD is deposited in the printer tray as indicated by block 78. Thecarriage can be disengaged from the printhead and moved to its storageposition as indicated by the block 80. The label is printed with thelabel information using the ink jet printhead. This is indicated atblock 82. After printing, the carriage 30 is latched to the printheadagain as indicated by block 84, and the CD that is finished is removedfrom the printer tray by operating the “picker” or gripper 24 asindicated by block 86, and then the finished CD is moved to the finishedstack, either storage station 50 or support 110, as indicated by block88.

The carriage is reset as indicated by the block 90, that is it is movedover to the left, and remains latched to the printhead. When the programcalls for another recording and printing, a new blank CD or disc istaken from the storage area and the process is repeated.

The ability to move the carriage that carries the CD between the blankstorage station or station, the printing and recording station, and thefinished CD station using the printhead drive reduces the complexity andcost of the CD transport or pick arm, as well as providing rapid easilycontrolled operations.

FIGS. 11–14 illustrate a modified form of a transport mechanism 38, thecarriage 30 and the arm 28 that was shown in the first form of theinvention.

In this form of the invention, as shown in FIG. 11, a printer frameindicated generally at 150 is again a standard printer frame, such asthat shown in the first form of the invention and made and sold byLexmark International, Inc. of Lexington, Ky. It includes a frame 152,that has a transverse bearing support shaft 154 slidably mountingprintheads shown at 156. Again, there are double printheads shown, andthe printheads can be suitably guided as previously explained on a track152A at the upper side of the frame 152. The printhead has two inkcartridges, one of which is shown fragmentarily in FIG. 11. The inkcartridges 156A, as previously explained. The ink cartridges areoperated through a drive belt 158, that is driven from a motor as shownin the previous forms of the invention, such as conventional drive usedfor ink jet printheads. The drive, through the belt 158, moves theprinthead 156 along the shaft 154 and a synchronized movement of aprinter as previously explained. CD printer housing 153 is mounted inthe center portions of the printer frame, and includes a tray that movesin and out for printing on a disc, such as a disc 165, as previouslyexplained. The operation of the disc printer, and the CD burner isexactly the same as that previously explained.

In this form of the invention, however, a disc transport mechanismindicated at 169 is modified to include a pivoting arm carriage assembly170 which is made to mount a picker arm 168. The arm carriage 170 ismounted on but can pivot relative to a frame 169A of the transportmechanism 169. The arm 168, in turn, carries a gripper 164 as previouslyexplained, that will be used for lifting and lowering CDs, DVDs or thelike as shown at 165. The operation of the picker has been previouslyexplained, as well. Arm 168 is mounted onto the carriage 170, and thecarriage 170 is slidably mounted on the same bearing shaft 164 as theprinthead 166, and also can be guided on the frame edge 152A forstability if desired.

The transport mechanism 169 is carried for movement along the bearingshaft 154 by utilizing a latch lever 173 that operates as described forthe latch lever 29. The latch lever 173 will latch onto a lug or catchportion 173A of the printer frame 156, so the disc transport mechanism169 and arm 168 can be moved between the position shown in solid linesin FIG. 11, and the position shown in dotted lines in FIG. 11.

The arm carriage 170 is shown in greater detail in FIGS. 13 and 14, andin this form of the invention, the center block 171 has a threadedcentral hub 171C that is threadably mounted onto a vertically threadedrod or post 172. The threaded rod or post 172 is supported for rotationon the carriage 170. Carriage 170 includes a bottom plate 174, and a topplate 176 that are supported together on side guide and support rods178. These guide rods 178 are spaced apart, and move with the plates 174and 176, in as much as they are attached to the plates by suitablethreaded members at the ends of the guide rods. The center block 171 hasU-shaped saddle or guide receptacles indicated at 180 to slidably guidealong the rods 178, as the screw or rod 172 is threaded, and the hub 171is moved up and down. The screw or rod 172 is operated with a motor 182that is mounted on the transport mechanism 169. The motor 182 and screw172 can rotate relative to the central hub 171C to raise and lower thecenter block 171. The guides 178 and top and bottom plates 174 and 176and the arm 168 move with the carriage 170. The carriage 170 is thusmounted for pivotal movement about the axis of screw 172 relative to theframe 169A of the transport mechanism 169. The carriage 170 and arm 168will pivot about rod or screw 172.

Threaded rod or screw 172 is rotatably mounted in a suitable bushing 184on the bottom plate 174 and on the bottom wall 186 of frame 169A. It canbe seen that the bottom plate 174 is supported with clearance relativeto the bottom wall 186 of the transport mechanism frame 169A. Thus, therod or screw 172 can be rotated by the motor 182 without affecting thepivotal position of the plates 174 or 176 since the guide rods 178 keepthe center block from rotating.

The frame 169A and carriage 170 have spring loaded detents that act todetent the carriage in the right and left positions. Detents are wellknown, and any spring loaded detent ball or other type of detent can beused.

Rotating the rod or screw 172 will cause the center block 171 and hub171C to move up and down along the rod and carry the arm 168 with it forpositioning the picker over a blank CD storage area 188. The blank CDstorage area includes a hopper 189 and, upon operation of the gripper164 after the arm raised from the blank storage hopper 189.

The plates 174 and 176, and thus, the center block 171, which is pivotedwith the plates 174 and 176 and the guide rods 178, as well as the arm168 can be swiveled about the axis of the rod or screw 172. In FIG. 11,it can be seen that the arm 168 has an actuation lever 200 fixedlymounted thereon. The lever 200 extends rearwardly relative to theprinter frame, to overlie the rear portions of the upper rail 152. Afirst stop lug 202 is fixed to the upper rail 152 and protrudes upwardlytherefrom. When the transport mechanism 169, including the carriage 170,is moved to its position at the end of the travel for the printhead 146to the left in FIG. 11, the lever 200 will have struck the lug 202. Thecarriage 170 will be pivoted about the axis of the rod or screw 172 tothe position as shown in solid lines, with the arm is swiveled clockwisefrom a center position. One end of the plate 174 is inclined outwardlyas shown in FIG. 11 (plate 176 is also pivoted), and the arm 168 and thepicker 164 have been moved to the left in FIG. 11 a greater distancethan a line perpendicular to the upper rail 152. When the latch 173 hasengaged a catch portion 173A on the printheads 156, and the printheadshave been moved all the way to the right in FIG. 11, the lever 200 willengage a second lug 204 and swivel the carriage 170 counterclockwise.The plates 174 and 176, the guides 178, and the arm 168 swivelcounterclockwise to the position shown in dotted lines in FIG. 11. Thepicker overlies a finished disc storage area 208 for discs 210 that havebeen printed, and burned in with the CD burner 212 which forms part ofthe invention as previously disclosed.

Again, the carriage 170 can be detented in its right and left positions,after being pivoted, by engagement with the respective lug 202 or 204.The detent can act between bottom plate 174 of the carriage and bottomwall 186 of the frame 169A.

Thus, by having the arm 168 swivel or rotate about a vertical axis, anextended reach can be obtained for the arm that is greater than theamount of travel permitted by the printheads and printhead carriage. Theprintheads, with the arm 168 shown in its dotted line position in FIG.11, would be up against the side panel of the frame 152, and would notbe permitted any further movement to the right.

FIG. 14 shows a greater detail on the bushing 184 for the threaded rodor screw 172, and also shows the fastening details for the plate 184relative to the guide rods 178. Again, the plate 174, the plate 176 andthe guide rods 178 swivel as a unit when the lever 200 engages one ofthe lugs 202 or 204.

It should be noted that the arm 168 can remain in the position shown insolid lines in FIG. 11 for moving a CD to the CD burner and printerstations. The position of the printhead can be programmed to accommodatethe arm position.

Other than the ability to swivel about an upright axis on the mountingfor the drive to vertically raise and lower the arms, the operation ofthe printer, and the CD burner shown in FIGS. 11–14 is the same aspreviously explained.

Again the size of the disc and the peripheral shape can be selected asdesired, including business card discs, ID discs, mini discs and thelike. The picker can be adapted to suit the discs being handled.

The carriages 30 or 170 can be mounted on a separate bearing shaft andguide rails that let the printhead slide the carriage parallel to theprinthead movement. The additional parts for a parallel slidearrangement may increase cost, but they can be used.

Although the present invention has been described with reference topreferred embodiments, workers skilled in the art will recognize thatchanges may be made in form and detail without departing from the spiritand scope of the invention.

1. A method of recording and printing on compact discs utilizing aprinter having a printhead, a guide for the printhead for guiding theprinthead in a path, a drive for the printhead for moving it along theguide, and a support for an item to be printed that moves laterally tothe path of the printhead, and a carriage mounted for movement with theprinthead for carrying an item on which printing is applied, comprisingattaching the carriage to move with the printhead to selectively movethe item to selected positions.
 2. The method of claim 1 includingpicking an item from a store with the carriage, and driving theprinthead with the carriage attached to a position with the item alignedwith the support.
 3. A disc processor for selectively processing compactdiscs comprising: a disc processor having a processor disc support forreceiving a disc for processing; a frame for supporting the discprocessor and processor disc support, said frame including a guide; aprocessor member mounted on said guide and moveable along the guideunder a control for processing a disc in the processor disc support; anda disc transport mechanism including a disc pickup head having a discgripper for holding a disc, said disc transport mechanism being mountedon the frame for movement in a direction along the guide with theprocessor member to move a disc held by the disc gripper of the discpickup head as the processor member moves along the guide so the discpickup head is moved from a disc storage region to the processor discsupport; a disc printer forming the disc processor, the processor memberincluding a printhead controllable for movement along the guide.
 4. Thedisc processor of claim 3, further comprising: a disc recorder having asecond extendible disc support for receiving and dispensing a disc forrecording, the second disc support having a loading position; and thetransport mechanism being movable with the printhead to deposit discsselectively on the processor disc support and the second disc support.5. The disc processor of claim 3, wherein said disc transport mechanismhas a coupling connecting the disc transport mechanism to the printheadfor movement with the printhead.
 6. The disc processor of claim 3,wherein said disc transport mechanism comprises a carriage, an arm onthe carriage, said arm being moveable generally perpendicular to a planeof the disc support.
 7. The disc processor of claim 6, wherein the armon the carriage is pivotably mounted to the carriage about an axisextending uprightly relative to a support plane of the processor discsupport, and the arm being controllable to at least two angularpositions that are oblique to the direction of movement of the processormember along the guide.
 8. A CD printer assembly comprising a printerfor printing on a CD, the printer having a loading position forreceiving CDs, the printer having a movable printhead, a printer framehaving a guide for mounting the printhead, and a drive for driving theprinthead along the guide, a CD handler slidably mounted on the printerframe for movement with the printhead along the guide and having amechanism for carrying CDs, a blank CD station, and a coupling betweenthe CD handler and the printhead so the CD handler moves with theprinthead between the blank CD station and the printer loading position,and a CD recorder having a CD recorder loading position for receiving aCD, the CD handler being movable with the printhead along the guide toposition a CD held in the CD handler to overlie the CD recorder loadingposition.
 9. The assembly of claim 8, wherein the assembly includes afinished CD station on an opposite side of the printer loading positionfrom the blank CD station, the CD handler being movable along the guidewith the printhead to positions to overlie the blank CD station and thefinished CD station.
 10. The assembly of claim 8, wherein the CD handlercomprises a carriage mounted on the CD handler and the mechanism forcarrying CDs including an arm mounted on the carriage, the carriagebeing pivotally mounted about an upright axis relative to the CDhandler, and engageable members to control the position of the arm aboutthe upright axis at first and second positions of the CD handler as itmoves with the printhead along the guide, such that when the engageablemembers engage adjacent the first position along the guide, the arm ispivoted in one direction of pivoting to overlie the blank CD station,and when the engageable members engage at the second position along theguide, the arm is pivoted in an opposite direction of pivoting tooverlie a separate finished CD station.